Report: Wal-Mart's Anti-Union Activities

Yesterday, Human Rights Watch issued a new report, titled "Discounting Human Rights: Wal-Mart's Violation of US Workers' Right to Freedom of Association," outlining the various ways the company works to keep labor unions from taking hold among its employees.

“Wal-Mart workers have virtually no chance to organize because they’re up against unfair US labor laws and a giant company that will do just about anything to keep unions out,” said Carol Pier, senior researcher on labor rights and trade for Human Rights Watch. “That one-two punch devastates workers’ right to form and join unions.”

Among other things, the report notes that Wal-mart teaches its workers to be anti-union from the moment they are hired, that workers must call a hotline and report on their fellow employees organizing efforts and that union reps are banned from company property.